Some animals that depend on the forest tell us a great deal about the health of their environment and the effectiveness of efforts to preserve it. In the Philippines, environmentalists and government officials are using a new system called the LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System to monitor the state of forests in an unprecedented…
There are several countries that often come up when people talk about international development and the global economy, countries that need not be listed because you can probably already name them. Indonesia is not usually among them, but as these five facts show, there is a lot at stake in this large and incredibly diverse…
With more than 20,000 species of plants and animals native to the country, the Philippines is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Much of this biodiversity is contained in natural forest areas, but these once-lush forests and their biodiversity are degrading at an alarming rate. Over time, the country has lost approximately…
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) is the lead institution in the Indonesian government for promoting sustainable fisheries as well as managing coastal areas and promoting the welfare of coastal communities. USAID has played a significant role in supporting MMAF’s establishment and capacity building to fulfill its diverse mandate. In late 2010, USAID…
The USAID Regional Program partnered successfully with local populations, like artisan fishermen and indigenous communities, as well as non-profit organizations, private sector, and government authorities to support coastal-marine biodiversity conservation. The program also implemented improved fishing practices to reduce the use of harmful practices like scuba diving for lobster, explosives, and illegal nets that adversely…
On December 4, Secretary of State John Kerry made a brief trip to Moldova, during which he visited a local winery and spoke about the country’s economic future. After talks with top officials from the Moldovan government, Kerry stopped by the Cricova Wine Cellar, where he participated in the launch of a new national wine…